Empowering your data platform with AI
Proposed session for SQLBits 2026TL; DR
In this session, I show how AI enhances the modern data stack, helping engineers work faster and analysts gain insights from unstructured data. You will see how tools like Microsoft Copilot and Databricks AI/BI Genie bring AI into practice, with real examples and a hands on demo.
Session Details
AI has become an essential part of the modern data stack. In this session, we will explore how it can help engineers work faster, give analysts quicker insights from unstructured data such as text, images and audio, and enable organizations to make smarter, data-driven decisions.
I will highlight how solutions like Microsoft Copilot and Databricks AI/BI Genie bring these capabilities into practice. You will dive into a variety of AI features that can strengthen your data platform. From AI assistants that accelerate coding and streamline analysis, to conversational AI that lets you query data and build dashboards in natural language. From the predictive power of machine learning models to the automation of complex tasks with cognitive services. You will also see how text analytics can uncover sentiment, classify information and recognize sensitive data, and how generative AI can create summaries, narratives and documentation that make insights instantly usable. Together, these out-of-the-box capabilities help you add intelligence to your data flows quickly and with minimal effort.
We will also look at the responsibilities that come with applying AI, including security, privacy, data quality and governance. By addressing these challenges early, you keep control while building trust in your data landscape.
You’ll walk away with practical insights on how to kickstart your AI journey, including tips on where to start, how to scale responsibly, and how to embed AI where it matters most in your organization.
This session includes a hands-on demonstration to let you experience the power of AI first-hand.
Join to see how AI extends the power of your data platform, unlocking insights that move your organization forward.
I will highlight how solutions like Microsoft Copilot and Databricks AI/BI Genie bring these capabilities into practice. You will dive into a variety of AI features that can strengthen your data platform. From AI assistants that accelerate coding and streamline analysis, to conversational AI that lets you query data and build dashboards in natural language. From the predictive power of machine learning models to the automation of complex tasks with cognitive services. You will also see how text analytics can uncover sentiment, classify information and recognize sensitive data, and how generative AI can create summaries, narratives and documentation that make insights instantly usable. Together, these out-of-the-box capabilities help you add intelligence to your data flows quickly and with minimal effort.
We will also look at the responsibilities that come with applying AI, including security, privacy, data quality and governance. By addressing these challenges early, you keep control while building trust in your data landscape.
You’ll walk away with practical insights on how to kickstart your AI journey, including tips on where to start, how to scale responsibly, and how to embed AI where it matters most in your organization.
This session includes a hands-on demonstration to let you experience the power of AI first-hand.
Join to see how AI extends the power of your data platform, unlocking insights that move your organization forward.
3 things you'll get out of this session
- Practical understanding of how AI accelerates engineering and analytics workflows across the data stack
- See concrete use cases of Microsoft Copilot and Databricks AI/BI Genie, including sentiment analysis, classification, translation and summarization of unstructured data
- Clear guidance on applying AI responsibly with attention to security, governance and scalability
Speakers
Laura de Bruin's other proposed sessions for 2026
A scalable dataplatform starts with reusable code: Metadata to the Rescue - 2026
Authorization By Data Classification (ABC) - 2026